Health ministry defends fraud claims
Situation discussed at length with AG's office
The ministry says it has proven that the staff member never processed any payment after his last day of work and that proof exists in this regard.
The Office of the Auditor-General (AG) has found that a former ministry of health employee was able to pull its purse strings for two months after they had resigned.
The findings are contained in an audit report into the ministry’s finances and shows the employee authorised 76 financial transactions in the ministry’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).
“The audit found that a staff member resigned on 13 August 2020. However, this staff member was still acting on the IFMS and processed 76 transactions to the value of N$1.56 million between 17 August and 21 September 2020.”
The health ministry, however, sought to explain how this happened.
“The situation was discussed at length by ministry officials with representatives of the Office of the AG. It was explained and - in fact - proven that the staff member never processed any payment after his last day of work. Document proof exists in this regard.
“The staff member initiated the payments whilst in the employment of the ministry,” executive director Ben Nangobe said when approached for comment last week.
He added that some of the payments which were initiated by the staff member in question were finally validated or approved by his supervisor after his last day of work.
The AG noted that the ministry had made 24 duplicate payments amounting to N$155 533 for its financial year. It was recommended that the ministry’s executive director ensure double payments are avoided and recovered.
Unaccounted vehicles
The ministry had also failed to account for 241 vehicles in its possession. In a previous audit, the AG had raised the matter, which had still not been addressed.
“The accounting officer reported that the ministry has 1 888 vehicles. However, the master list of all vehicles owned by the ministry indicated 1 647 vehicles. This has resulted in an unexplained difference of 241 vehicles.
“This matter was reported in the previous report and no improvement was involved,” the AG said.
The ministry was also flagged for its inability to account for vehicles it has had on hand over a five-year period.
Overspending
The health ministry was also questioned for its overspending of N$366 million, while a further two divisions had exceeded their spending by N$383 million. According to the AG, the expenditure was unauthorised in terms of the State Finance Act.
The AG recommended that the ministry’s accounting officer monitor and review its financial position on a continuous basis to enable better financial control.
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The findings are contained in an audit report into the ministry’s finances and shows the employee authorised 76 financial transactions in the ministry’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).
“The audit found that a staff member resigned on 13 August 2020. However, this staff member was still acting on the IFMS and processed 76 transactions to the value of N$1.56 million between 17 August and 21 September 2020.”
The health ministry, however, sought to explain how this happened.
“The situation was discussed at length by ministry officials with representatives of the Office of the AG. It was explained and - in fact - proven that the staff member never processed any payment after his last day of work. Document proof exists in this regard.
“The staff member initiated the payments whilst in the employment of the ministry,” executive director Ben Nangobe said when approached for comment last week.
He added that some of the payments which were initiated by the staff member in question were finally validated or approved by his supervisor after his last day of work.
The AG noted that the ministry had made 24 duplicate payments amounting to N$155 533 for its financial year. It was recommended that the ministry’s executive director ensure double payments are avoided and recovered.
Unaccounted vehicles
The ministry had also failed to account for 241 vehicles in its possession. In a previous audit, the AG had raised the matter, which had still not been addressed.
“The accounting officer reported that the ministry has 1 888 vehicles. However, the master list of all vehicles owned by the ministry indicated 1 647 vehicles. This has resulted in an unexplained difference of 241 vehicles.
“This matter was reported in the previous report and no improvement was involved,” the AG said.
The ministry was also flagged for its inability to account for vehicles it has had on hand over a five-year period.
Overspending
The health ministry was also questioned for its overspending of N$366 million, while a further two divisions had exceeded their spending by N$383 million. According to the AG, the expenditure was unauthorised in terms of the State Finance Act.
The AG recommended that the ministry’s accounting officer monitor and review its financial position on a continuous basis to enable better financial control.
[email protected]
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